Rep. Ed Perlmutter, D-Jefferson County, jokes with Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki at a gathering at the groundbreaking two years ago.

WASHINGTON — All nine members of the Colorado delegation want the new Veteran’s Administration hospital in Aurora to be named after a veteran.

Colorado’s seven House members, three Democrats and four Republicans, along with both senators sent a letter to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki today requesting an “independent naming committee” to select a veteran.

They will look for someone with combat experience, military decoration, civic engagement and leadership and character, according to the letter.

Sen. Michael Bennet, a former DPS superintendent, promoted a proposal today to make it easier for private companies to invest in technology in the classroom.

WASHINGTON — Sen. Michael Bennet said if there isn’t more investment in technology in schools, classrooms will look the same in 20 years as they do now and American students will fall behind.

Speaking at the American Enterprise Institute today, Bennet, a Democrat, promoted an amendment he authored in the re-authorization of No Child Left Behind that would make it easier for businesses to invest in technology in classrooms. His proposal is modeled after a similar program in the Department of Defense.

“The private sector wants to get into this space, but don’t always want to take the risk of getting involved with local school boards,” Bennet said.

Secretary of State Scott Gessler today named former Littleton city attorney Suzanne Staiert to serve as deputy secretary of state, replacing the retiring Bill Hobbs.

Staiert most recently worked as an associate municipal judge for the city of Centennial. She also has been assistant county attorney for Arapahoe County, an associate judge for Aurora and Centennial municipal courts and assistant city attorney for the city of Aurora.

She was selected out of a pool of almost 70 applicants, who were screened by a committee that included Hobbs, former Sen. Hank Brown and Gessler’s former law partner, Jim Hackstaff.

Losing $$. Colorado taxpayers lose out on $164,383 every day House Bill 1005 isn’t signed into law, yet the legislation has languished for weeks. Denver Post.

I’m tired. A bill requiring companies that collect from a state tire recycling fund to actually do something with the tires passed a key Senate committee, inching closer to the governor’s desk. Denver Post.

Pension politics. State Treasurer Walker Stapleton, embroiled in a pension fight at home, met last week with two Republican governors who have inflamed labor unions and government workers across the nation.Denver Post.

Carpe per diem. A Democratic senator says she can’t support a travel increase for state lawmakers because Colorado families are struggling and because of what she witnessed as a Gilpin County commissioner. Denver Post.

Lynn Bartels thinks politics is like sports but without the big salaries and protective cups. The Washington Post's "The Fix" blog has named her one of Colorado's best political reporters and tweeters.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.